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ONTARIO– Local faith leaders hosted a luncheon at the Sar Shalom Center Thursday to hear a boots-on- the-ground report on Israel. During the meeting, a letter addressed to the Israeli Ambassador and signed by one hundred-fifteen clergy was given to the keynote speaker. The letter supported the Jewish State’s right to the Biblical Promise Land and promised staunch support no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
“At a time where there is great hostility towards Israel, this is a true effort showing your dedication to maintain our friendship,” said Eeki Elner, President and Founder of the Israeli Leadership Institute. “This letter is not just to the Ambassador of Israel, this clergy letter is also to the Jewish people,” he said.
Elner has been meeting with faith leaders around the county garnering support for Israel during the ongoing war in the Middle East. “From my experience being with him in his home in Haifa and travelling all over the nation with him, I would say Eeki Elner is a man of great courage, conviction, and character,” Pastor J.C. Church said at the luncheon. “Make no mistake the hand of the LORD is upon Eeki.”
During the October 7th massacre, Elner shared that fifteen of his friends were murdered by Hamas terrorists. But that was not the only attack Israel endured. “The next day, Hezbollah began shooting rockets from the north towards Israel,” Elner said. “We are not a big nation, it is by the grace of GOD and friendship with America that we have won past wars; but this war has taken its toll on us. During this war, people are not investing in Israel as before. Our national budget is stretched due to the costs from the wars in both the north and the south. People are really devastated by what has happened.”
Pastor Church told attendees he believes these are extraordinary times. “We are living in the most defining moment of our lives. The issues we see involving Israel and the moral madness in our nation demands a response by every leader in every arena,” the Crawford County Pastor said. “We can no longer hide from the issues like some choose to do. This is the most pressure-packed moment in the history of our life, our ministries, and our nation. GOD has us here for such a time as this.”
“There can be no ceasefire in the Middle East with an enemy that wants you dead. The Bible says the covenant GOD has made with Israel is everlasting. GOD stands with Israel and not standing with Israel is not standing with GOD.”
Pastor J.C. Church
Pastor Church believes that pressure can reveal a person. “This is the most revealing moment we have ever been in. Sadly today, this issue of supporting Israel is exposing many. One pastor told me he did not address the issue of Israel with his congregation ‘because it was too sensitive today.’ No, it is not too sensitive, it is just exposing you as a coward, that is what the issue of Israel is doing. I do not know what Bible you are reading, but we have to be clear the herd is being thinned right now.
“This issue of supporting Israel, like so many other moral issues has been hijacked to the point that people think they are political instead of the moral issues that they are. There can be no ceasefire in the Middle East with an enemy that wants you dead. The Word of GOD is infallible, without error, and give us our direction. Psalms 105:10 says the covenant GOD has made with Israel is everlasting. GOD stands with Israel, and not standing with Israel is not standing with GOD.”
In addition to the thirty faith leaders, also attending were: State Representative Marilyn John, Mansfield City Councilman Reverend El Akuchie, Judge Steve McKinley, Ontario Safety Service Director Adam Gongwer, and Caroline Bick, District Director with Congressman Jim Jordan‘s office.
“The fight is not just with the elections that are coming or the military aid going to Israel,” said Elner. The fight is also to educate the next generation of Americans on their commitment to the Bible, to Judeo-Christian values, and the American heritage.”
“I love Ohio, I think Ohio is the heart of America. I speak in other states in America and you will never find me saying the same thing about another state. I think Ohio has a power and spirit that can change America. Ohio has always been a leader. There are much bigger Jewish communities in New York in Los Angeles or Miami. There are not many large communities of Jewish people here (in Ohio.) But it is the Christian community here that has always supported Israel so strongly.”
Rabbi William Hallbrook encouraged the attendees. “Stand with Israel because in GOD’s Word, Israel is both tied to the past and Israel is prophetically-tied to the future. Our destinies are connected; we are one. I encourage you to be vocal and to support Israel with your resources.”
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Psalm 105, “GOD remembers His covenant forever, the promise He made for a thousand generations, the covenant He made with Abraham, the oath He swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant.”
View slideshow from clergy luncheon at the Ontario Sar Shalom Center on September 26th.
View video of the clergy luncheon at Ontario Sar Shalom Center on Thursday, September 26th. (Duration 58 min.)
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Many thanks for publishing the round table conference at Sar Shalom , it is such an impacting way to allow others to hear what is going on and to know the support for Israel from local pastors and leadership in Richland county